“If you were going to ask me after watching those (college) guys throw, if I was going to say just overall who was the most impressive, I would put the two kids from your state there right at the top. I would have (Jarrett) Stidham. That just looks like a prototypical quarterback who had a phenomenal workout. He would have been at the top of the list for me. And then I would have Tua behind him...

Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
... Auburn's offense is set behind Stidham and one of the league's top receiving corps for 2018. After all, Stidham's 3,158 passing yards in his first year on campus ranked second for a single season in program history. He also tossed 18 touchdowns and added 153 yards and four scores on the ground. Stidham's 10 passing plays of 50 yards or more ranked fifth nationally among FBS quarterbacks last season.

Wilkins is one of those household name college players who has seemingly been around for a decade, as he made an impact with 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks on the national runner-up Clemson squad of 2015.

He'll be 23 in December and has a unique frame at 6-4 and 300 pounds which lends credence to the idea that he can be a member of an NFL defensive line who aligns at a different position seemingly every snap. Wilkins' fluidity when changing directions is more impressive than his explosiveness up the field, and he appeared to rely on his plus strength too often last season instead of utilizing intricate pass-rushing moves to disrupt the backfield.

Some NFL teams will be enamored with the versatility of a tall, 300-pound athlete on their defensive front. Others will see a heavy defensive end lacking bend who loses the leverage battle on the inside because of his height. We know he can take on blocks, and he is noticeably strong, but Wilkins can be showcased if he's given more opportunities to attack upfield for the Tigers this season. He should be drafted in the first round on his physical talent and long-standing production alone yet could move into the top half of the Round 1 if he proves to be a capable one-gap penetrator.

... the missing piece to the bolt defense - an interior beasty... thankfully this years draft has a number of d-lineman that could fill the piece, even at pick 32...

Who are the top four explosive players in college football heading into 2018?

2. Houston DL Ed Oliver: When you think of explosive football players, typically they play on the offensive side of the ball. They could be receivers who double as kick returners, running backs who hit home runs in space or dual-threat quarterbacks who could become Heisman Trophy contenders at any moment.

Oliver bucks the trend. The stud Cougar defensive tackle had 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one blocked kick and scored one rushing touchdown as a sophomore in 2017.

CollegeFootballNews

Best Houston Defensive Player - DT Ed Oliver, Jr.

If the eligibility rules were fair and right, he’d be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he almost certainly will be the top guy in 2019 – Oliver has already said that he’s leaving.

An unfair combination of 6-3, 290-pound size, quickness, and skill in the backfield, the one-time super-recruit has more than lived up to the hype, earning almost every major defensive award last season making 73 stops with 5.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss after cranking up 22.5 tackles for loss as a freshman. Best of all for him – and Houston – this season, the rest of the D line is good enough to take the pressure off.

But one look at a Houston game and you'll know that, not only is he explosive in the middle of the defensive line, he's a player who every offensive coordinator only schemes against and fears. That's the definition of an explosive player -- a player who not only jumps out while watching film, but is a threat to flip a game upside down at any given time.

He's this year's version of former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. Ask former Michigan running back Vincent Smith how explosive he was. Yes, it's unorthodox to call a defensive tackle explosive, but Oliver is an unorthodox talent.

White erupted as a sophomore on LSU's defense and plays with a rare, Myles Jack-type explosiveness. Edwards is the opposite type of linebacker but thrives with lightning quick play recognition and strong block-shedding skills.
...
This offensive tackle class is primed to be considerably better at the top and deeper than it was in 2018.
16. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama, IS THE OT based on last years performance, some team is goin to get a 10 yr guy...
31. Trey Adams, OT, Washington, looked like a late first-rounder before a knee-ligament tear midway through the 2017 campaign. If he's fully recovered, you're looking at a towering and punishing Round 1 tackle.

*** am still thinking the bolts get their QB in rd 1/2... but tackle is also 'need'...

Finley, mainly due to his experience and mastery-level work in the quick game, has first-round potential. Lock too, solely based on some of the outrageous downfield rockets he can launch, will probably be in the first-round conversation. Herbert's a plus athlete with a big frame, live arm, and flashes of awesome downfield accuracy. With another strong season, he'll likely garner first-round attention.

At this point Stidham, Grier, and Browning have the overall profiles of second- or third-round selections. The latter two are ahead of some of the more physically gifted quarterbacks in their class when it comes to pocket maneuverability and anticipatory throwing.

"Next year's crop of prospects features a variety of defensive ends and especially defensive tackles who are already household names are and primed for gigantic seasons at the college ranks.

If eligible, Ohio State's Nick Bosa likely would've been a first-round pick in the 2018 draft, and he's building a resume in Columbus that has a good chance to be more impressive than his older brother's, and Joey went No. 3 overall in the 2016 draft. Not far behind him is an outstanding trio of mostly interior rushers; Houston's Ed Oliver, Michigan's Rashan Gary, and Clemson's Dexter Lawrence, all of whom were major recruits and have lived up to the billing thus far in their collegiate careers."

Aug 31, Fri, San Diego State (0-0,0-0) at Stanford (0-0,0-0), 6:00pm FS1 - The early line has 13th-ranked Stanford as a 14 1/2-point favorite. Though anything can happen with a couple of great coaches... Nice opener...

SDSU - "CollegeFootballNews - Can we start giving Rocky Long a little bit of love in the discussion of Best College Coaches besides the obvious discussion? He’s got a system. His teams are going to run the ball, play great defense and repeat. All Long has done in his seven seasons is come up with seven straight winners, three Mountain West titles, three bowl victories, and a 64-29 record to cement the program as one of the elite among the Group of Five. ... he might just have his best team in his 17 years as a head coach. If that turns out to be really true, welcome to your team that has everything in place to break down that barrier into the College Football Playoff."

Juwan Washington, Jr., RB, 5-7 190, SDSU - NEXT. It’s not fair to expect anyone to run for over 2,000 yards like Donnel Pumphrey did in 2016 and Rashaad Penny did last year, but Washington appears to be ready to be the next star... He’s physical for his size and has the lightning fast speed to hit the home run. In a limited role, he still managed to run for 759 yards and seven scores, averaging six yards per carry. And he can catch a little bit, too. If he can stay in one piece, the numbers will be enormous.

Tyler Roemer, OT, 6-7 315, SDSU - 2017 USA Today Freshman All-American, 2017 Second-Team All-Mountain West, 2017 SDSU Offensive Lineman of the Year... Big, physical lineman who possesses excellent technique, despite being just a sophomore ... Is slated to start at left tackle as the blindside blocker to quarterback Christian Chapman heading into the 2018 season after starting all 13 games last year... Someone has to pave the way for the amazing Aztec ground game... He’s got an NFL frame and he knows how to destroy his man, helping get Rashaad Penny to over 2,000 yards last season... *** am watching this guy as I believe the bolts have a need for a OT...

Ronley Lakalaka, LB, 6-0 225, SDSU - 2017 Second-Team All-Mountain West... a physical run stopper; a starter of 25 of the last 26 games... Has four career double-digit tackle games... compiling 82 tackles with three sacks and 5.5 tackles, last season... plays big in big games... Had four stops and a QBH against Stanford last year... Made eight tackles (second on team) with a QBH in another start vs. Boise State... Slated to start at one of the two outside linebacker spots in Rocky Long's 3-3-5 defense...

Stanford - "CollegeFootballNews - Nothing against Stanford, but at some point, someone will break the bank to hire David Shaw. All the guy does is go to Pac-12 title games on a regular basis at a place that can only go after the really, really smart dudes. All he does is find a way to keep it all going. ... With 73 wins in seven seasons, three Pac-12 championships, and two other conference title game appearances, Stanford has been really, really close to doing massive things under its head man. Might as well pencil in the Cardinal for nine wins (at least) because that's what David Shaw usually does. ... Throw in Heisman favorite Bryce Love and the Cardinal's physical style and it's going to be a battle with Washington for the top spot in the Pac-12 North. The schedule is just too nasty. The best part? The offensive line should be even better. The Cardinal led the Pac-12 in the fewest sacks allowed, and was great for the ground game that averaged over 200 yards per carry – someone had to pave the way for Love."

Bryce Love, RB, 5-10 202, 4.36, Stanford - 2017 Doak Walker Award winner; 2017 Lombardi Award winner; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year...
Love finished second to Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield in last year’s Heisman Trophy voting after rushing for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns....
No doubt, Love will have a greater workload this year who carried just 13 times against SDSU last season. He still gained 184 yards, most of it on 53- and 51-yard touchdowns...

He’s not all that big, he’s not a proven receiver, and he’s more of a rotation back at the next level than a Zeke/Fournette/Gurley type of workhorse… Love has elite quickness, proved he could handle the ball 20 times or more, and had no issues showing off his heart, grinding out a 2,118-yard, 19-touchdown season averaging over eight yards per carry... *** got a little Barry Sanders in him...

Frank Buncom, FS, 6-2 206, Stanford - 'Old' Charger fans should remember this name... Pac-12 All-Academic second team; 46 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three interceptions, one pass breakup; The one-time star recruit has next-level size, speed and range to go along with the Stanford-smarts to be an all-conference performer in the classroom. Now, on a defense that lost a whole slew of key parts, he’s the main man and has to be the leader and all-conference, difference-making star...

Jovan Swann, DE, 6-2 271, Stanford - Coach Shaw believes Swann will no longer be 'under the radar'... “He played on and off last year and this offseason he has grown so much. He’s so explosive and so strong and excited about being the guy in our front right now.”